though a gallus holds them up sometimes,) shifted his quid, gave his nor'wester a pull over his forehead, and looked solemncholly, and my experience, Tom, is, that this life ain't all beer and skittles.'

"Cutler, there is a great deal of philosophy in that maxim: a preacher couldn't say as much in a sermon an hour long, as there is in that little story with that little moral reflection at the eend of it.

"This life ain't all beer and skittles.' Many a time since I heard that anecdote and I heard it in Kew Gardens, of all places in the world-when I am disappointed sadly I say that saw over, and console myself with it. I can't expect to go thro' the world, Cutler, as I have done: stormy days, long and dark nights are before me. As I grow old I shant be so full of animal spirits as I have been. In the natur of things I must have my share of âches, and pains, and disappointment, as well as others; and when they come, nothing will better help me to bear them than that little, simple reflection of the sailor, which appeals so directly to the heart. Sam, this life aint all beer and skittles, that's a fact."

CHAPTER III.

UNLOCKING A WOMAN'S HEART.

As we approached the eastern coast, "Eldad," sais I, to the pilot, "is there any harbour about here where our folks can do a little bit of trade, and where I can see something of 'Fishermen at home.""

"We must be careful now how we proceed, for if the Spitfire' floats at the flood, Captain Stoker will try perhaps to overhaul us.'

"Don't we want to wood and water, and aint there some repairs wanting," sais I, and I gave him a wink. "If so we can put into port; but I don't think we will attempt to fish again within the treaty limits, for it's dangerous work."

"Yes," sais he, touching his nose with the point of his finger, "all these things are needed,

and when they are going on, the mate and I can attend to the business of the owners." He then looked cautiously round to see that the Captain was not within hearing.

"Warn't it the Black Hawk' that was chased?" said he. "I think that was our name then."

"Why, to be sure it was," said I.

"Well," sais he, "this is the 'Sary Ann,' of New Bedford, now," and proceeding aft he turned a screw, and I could hear a board shift in the stern. "Do you mind that," said he: "well, you can't see it where you stand just now, at present; but the Sary Ann' shows her name there, now, and we have a set of papers to correspond. I guess the Britisher can't seize her, because the 'Black Hawk' broke the treaty; can he ?” And he gave a knowing jupe of his head, as much as to say, aint that grand?

"Now, our new Captain is a strait-laced sort of man, you see; but the cantin fellow of a master you had on board before, warn't above a dodge of this kind. If it comes to the scratch, you must take the command again, for Cutler won't have art nor part in this game; and we may be reformed out afore we know where we are.'

"Well," sais I, "there is no occasion, I guess; put us somewhere a little out of sight, and we won't break the treaty no more. I

reckon the Spitfire,' after all, would just as soon be in port as looking after us. It's small potatoes for a man-of-war to be hunting poor game, like us little fore and afters."

"As you like," he said, "but we are prepared, you see, for the mate and men understand the whole thing. It aint the first time they have escaped by changing their sign-board."

"Exactly," said I, "a ship aint like a dog; that can only answer to one name, and 'Sary Ann' is as good as the 'Black Hawk,' every mite and morsel. There is a good deal of fun in altering sign-boards. I recollect wunst, when I was a boy, there was a firm to Slickville who had this sign over their shop:

Well, one Saturday-night, brother Josiah and
I got a paint-brush, and altered it this way:
'Gallop and 8 More
Taylors

Make a man.'

"Lord, what a commotion it made. Next

day was Sunday; and as the folks were going to church, they stood and laughed, and roared like anything. It made a terrible hulla-bulloo.

Sam,' said Minister to me, 'what in natur is all that ondecent noise about, so near the church-door.'

"I told him. It was most too much for him, but he bit in his breath, and tried to look grave; but I see a twinkle in his eye, and the corner of his mouth twitch, the way your eyelid does sometimes, when a nerve gets a dancing involuntarily. "A very foolish joke, Sam,' he said; 'it may get you into trouble.'

Why, Minister,' said I, 'I hope you don't think that

"No,' said he, 'I don't think at all, I know it was you, for it's just like you.

a foolish joke, for, Sam:

But it's

Honor and worth from no condition rise-'

"Exactly,' sais I.

"Stitch well your part, there all the honor lies.'

"Sam, Sam,' said he, 'you are a bad boy,' and he put on a serious face, and went in and got his gown ready for service.